Rydberg excitation of a single trapped ion

TL;DR

This paper reports the first demonstration of exciting a single trapped calcium ion to Rydberg states using vacuum-ultraviolet laser radiation, highlighting potential for quantum computing and simulation.

Contribution

It presents the experimental realization of Rydberg excitation in a single trapped ion and models the resulting spectral lineshapes.

Findings

Resonances identified as specific Rydberg states

Large state-dependent coupling to trapping potential

Implications for quantum computing applications

Abstract

We demonstrate excitation of a single trapped cold $^{40}$Ca$^+$ ion to Rydberg levels by laser radiation in the vacuum-ultraviolet at 122 nm wavelength. Observed resonances are identified as 3d$^2$D$_{3/2}$ to 51 F, 52 F and 3d$^2$D$_{5/2}$ to 64F. We model the lineshape and our results imply a large state-dependent coupling to the trapping potential. Rydberg ions are of great interest for future applications in quantum computing and simulation, in which large dipolar interactions are combined with the superb experimental control offered by Paul traps.